Parents need to know that Evil Dead is a remake of Sam Raimi's classic early-'80s horror movie The Evil Dead. Like the original, it's filled with over-the-top gore, including spraying, dripping, and raining blood; stabbing; slicing; bashing; shooting (with both nail guns and regular guns); burning; and scalding. Dead cats and a dead dog are shown, and the infamous "tree rape" scene from the original is repeated here, though it's slightly less graphic this time around. On the other hand, language is stronger here than in the original, with both spoken and printed uses of "f--k" and "s--t." And a main character is a drug addict who's attempting to kick her habit; she's shown dumping a packet of heroin and going through withdrawals, but she isn't shown taking drugs. Sexuality isn't much of an issue, though minor suggestion is seen/heard.

Families can talk about Evil Dead's violence and gore. Why did the filmmakers go so over the top with it? What effect does it have? Why?

Is the movie scary? What would make it scarier, or less scary?

How does this movie compare to the original? Why do you think so many horror movies get remade? Is this one better or worse than others you've seen? Why?

How did you feel about the main character trying to quit her drug habit? Is she a sympathetic character, or does she seem like a bad person?

The good stuff

Messages: An older brother learns how to be present to help out his family members, improving on an earlier failure to visit his mom in the hospital. His sister yearns to stop her drug addiction, enlisting the aid of her closest friends and family to help. Unfortunately, teamwork between the siblings and the other characters doesn't always go very smoothly.

Role models: A main character is a drug addict who tries to kick her habit. Her behavior varies from admirable to poor, and the events of the story tend to impede her progress, but she at least appears to be on the right track.

Sex: It appears as if some of the characters are in relationships, but very little is made of this, with little affection/kissing shown. One character uses the sexually suggestive phrase "bumping uglies" in passing.

Language: Much of the language is seen in print, in the "book of the dead." Words include "f--k," "motherf----r," and "bitch." But characters also say "f--k," as well as "s--t," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," and "a--holes." A demon uses "c--t" and "c--k" once each, but in a "demonic" voice that isn't always clear.

Consumerism: Not applicable

Drinking, drugs and smoking: The movie's main character is a young adult drug addict who's trying to kick her habit. She dumps a packet of what appears to be heroin down a well as she vows to quit. She's never shown taking drugs, but she does suffer DTs during the course of the movie. She's also seen smoking a cigarette in one scene.

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